Connection for submersible motors



Apnl 2, 1963 E. J. BLUTH ETAL coNNEcTIoN Fon suBMERsIBLE MoToRs Filed March 28, 1960 II/a. 3.

/Za n/neo zZ LUrH my M JAMES Engg/afs rraeA/Eys United States Patent O 3,684,210 CNNECTIN FR SUBMERSIBLE MOTRS Edward i. Biuth, Downey, and James R. Green, Garden Grove, Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Emerson Electric hdanufacturing Company, St. Louis,

Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Mar. 2S, 1960, Ser. No. 18,126 2 Claims. (Cl. 174-65) This invention relates to the conduction of electrical energy to a load within a sealed space, such for example to a submersible electric motor. More particularly, the invention is designed to provide electrical connections for the `stator of the motor from the exterior to the interior of the casing without destroying the water-tightness of the motor casing.

Various forms of sealed connections have been proposed and have been used with considerable success. Nevertheless, it has been diiiicult to install such connections; e.g., it may be necessary to mold heated plastic or to vulcanize a rubber composition to the stator assembly. This entails handling a relatively large and bulky press in association with the entire motor.

it is one of the objects of this invention to make it possible to provide the required vulcanization or equivalent before installation of the connector on the casing, the final seal being effected by a soldering operation between a metal ferrule and the casing of the motor. By this means, also, it is a simple matter to remove the coupling structure by causing a separation of the ferrule from the casing, as by the aplication of heat.

It is another object of this invention to make it possible to test each lead assembly under pressure to determine whether the vulcanizing has been properly done before installing it.

In some instances, the stator is filled with a thermosetting plastic compound which is injected into the stator cavity. By making it possible to install the lead assembly prior to the injection, the casing can be vacuum-tested for leakage around the lead assembly; and if found defective at the solder joint, it can be readily repaired before the stator is filled with the thermo-setting material.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose, there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is ybest defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic fragmentary sectional view of a motor incorporating the invention; and

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views showing three forms of the invention.

In the present instance, a coupling member 1 is shown as installed in connection with a submersible motor 2. This submersible motor 2 has an outer shell or `casing 3 carrying a collar '4. It also has an extension 5 connected to the collar 4.

The collar 4 forms a part of the motor housing and serves to define a closed chamber 7 in which is located the stator winding S. This chamber may be filled with a thermo-setting plastic after the coupling member 1 is installed.

An inner tubular member 9 serves to define the annular space 7 and may be installed, as 'by welding or the like, with the collar 4.

A lead 11 extends from the windings of the stator to be 3,084,210 Patented Apr. 2, 1963 ICC connected to an insulated length of cable 12a. This cable is connected into the coupling member 1 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

At the opposite end of the coupling member 1 there is a rubber insulated stranded cable structure 12, which extendsinto the upper end of the coupling structure.

In the form shown in FIG. 1, a ferrule 13, made of metal such as brass, is shown as having a lower threaded portion 14 adapted to be threaded into a corresponding aperture in the collar 4.

The lower end of the ferrule 13 is thickened, providing a sloping shoulder 14a upon which rests an insulation sleeve 15.

This insulation sleeve `surrounds the lower end of a connecting member 16 which is located within the ferrule 13. This connecting member 16 may be made of a conducting material having opposed recesses 17 and 17a. Into these recesses extend bared ends of the cable elements 12 and 12a. Appropriate means may be provided to secure proper electrical connection between the cable ends and the connecting member l16.

interposed between the connector 16 and the ferrule 13 is a layer of vulcanized rubber plug 18. This rubber is vulcanized to the exterior insulation layer of cable 12, as well as to the ferrule 13 and to the exterior of connector 16. Thus, a complete seal is eected. This vulcanized rubber layer 18 is formed while the ferrule and the cables 12 and 12a are not assembled with the motor structure. Accordingly, it may be appropriately placed into a press to perform the vulcanizing operation and to provide complete insulation between the connector 16 and associated leads 12 and 12a.

By tightening the threads of the lower end 14 of the ferrule 13, a complete seal is provided.

Vulcanization being accomplished without the necessity of installing the coupling structure 1 in the motor collar 4, the device may be conveniently and effectively assembled.

The coupling structure 1 may then be installed in a motor structure before the tubular member 9 is assembled. Then the coupling structure may be vacuum-tested to determine whether there are any leaks through the coupling structure into the space 7. If it is found upon testing that the device 1 is free of leaks, the tube 9 can be installed, as by welding, and the cavity or space 7 may then be lled with the insulating compound.

In the form shown in FIG. 2, the cable 12a is indicated as having a bared end permanently joined to the coupling member 16.

In the form shown in FIG. 3, the coupling member 19 is provided with a relatively deep recess 20 in which a connection plug 21 may be resiliently inserted. This plug 21 is carried by the end of the cable 12a.

lIn this instance, the vulcanized rubber insulation or plug 22 carries an upper portion 23 having a thin layer extending over the top edge and around the periphery of the ferrule 25. The lower end 26 of the vulcanized rubber 22 also extends over the lower edge of the ferrule 25 and has a lower projecting flange 27 forming a reenforcing collar.

In this form of the invention, the lferrule 25 is in the form of a tube which is soldered, as indicated at 28, within an aperture in collar 4. Soldering maybe readily accomplished after the vulcanization of rubber 22 is cornpleted. By tinning the appropriate surfaces of the collar 4 and the ferrule 25, these surfaces may be rmly attached by application of a concentrated source of heat to the collar '4 and to the ferrule, as by a torch. This causes the tinning to melt and adhere to both the ferrule 25 and the aperture in collar 4.

As in the first form, the connector structure may be installed within the collar 4 and vacuum-tested for leaks.

coupling. device', may .bei finally: installed: andv the:A tubular memberi 92 welded.:'in.place;` sofas: to provide,` the: closcd space 7 for the accommodation: of the'thermo-settingy plastic.

the heat applied tot'heapartsr for the soldering` operationy will not/adversely. affect the rubberfinsulationz In 1the..fo11mi. offr the?. invention. illustrated. in FIG. x 4, the; l

ferrule 29.'.is1solderedi as before, a's.indicated by the solder' joint 30. The rubber insulation o1' .p1ug.'3'1 isr.v.ulcanized,

prior tothe ,soldering operatiom Cableh 12a4has; a, -bared'fL end-.32./permanently ettacliedl to,-

the connector 33. As in the form shown in FIG. 2, an insulation: sleeve 34; suchasa'nylon, is seatedr upon,` a shoulder35 formed atv the; lower-f end ofl the ferrule 29; The; lower endsofv the: insulating rubber materialll. con'- tactstleil upperfendzof thefsleeve'llf, andy together theyy cooperatefully. to .enclose the connector3i3.

fldiefinventors claim:

Airemovablezsealedelectrical coupling for ahousingt comprising: a housinghaving anraperture therethrougln;

ai metal ferruletelescopically.- fitted in: saidi aperture for slidable. insertionfthereinrfrom the: exterior: of; said housf ingaand removal: therefrom; to,y thev exterior, oft saidhous-V ing;;a solder'joint locatedrat the exteriorfjuncture ofsaid housing and ferrule sealing the exterior surface of said ferrulew tosaid housingaroundthef'exteriory rim" ofi said aperture, a connector having ltwo noncom-municating recesses at opposite ends and located in said ferrule, a lirst insulated electrical lead extendinginto and connected to one of said recesses from theexterior of. said housing, a second lead extending into and connected to the otherv of said recesses. from the, interior of said housing, and a resilient rubber plug` surrounding said connector and` a portion of said iirst lead anda portion of; itsinsulation and filling the space` betweent'hcse parts and the interior of said ferrule and being bonded to saidlferrule, said connector, and said portion of insulation, whereby said assemble/dlconnector,l leads, plug and' ferrulemay be repeatedlyuremoved-from andf1sealinglyseatedin said aperture-L f 2. A removable sealedeleetricali coupling' asl set'forth in-claiint 1g. wherein .saidf plug extendsv over the fend'of 'said ferrullocatedexteriorlyof saidihousingland over an a'di jacent exterior surface portion of said ferrule.

References: Citedin .theliile of; this: patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS' 822,293 Moody- ...Y June? 5, 1906` 2,310,423r G01d Feb; 9, 1,943 2,651,672 Ivanoff SeptgS, 19535 2998755.70 Bluth .Tune 6; 1961 

1. A REMOVABLE SEALED ELECTRICAL COUPLING FOR A HOUSING COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH, A METAL FERRULE TELESCOPICALLY FITTED IN SAID APERTURE FOR SLIDABLE INSERTION THEREIN FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING AND REMOVAL THEREFROM TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING, A SOLDER JOINT LOCATED AT THE EXTERIOR JUNCTION OF SAID HOUSING AND FERRULE SEALING THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID FERRULE TO SAID HOUSING AROUND THE EXTERIOR RIM OF SAID APERTURE, A CONNECTOR HAVING TWO NONCOMMUNICATING RECESSES AT OPPOSITE ENDS AND LOCATED IN SAID FERRULE, A FIRST INSULATED ELECTRICAL LEAD EXTENDING INTO AND CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID RECESSES FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING, A SECOND LEAD EXTENDING INTO AND CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID RECESSES FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING, AND A RESILIENT RUBBER PLUG SURROUNDING SAID CONNECTOR AND A PORTION OF SAID FIRST LEAD AND A PORTION OF ITS INSULATION AND FILLING THE SPACE BETWEEN THESE PARTS AND THE INTERIOR OF SAID FERRULE AND BEING BONDED TO SAID FERRULE, SAID CONNECTOR, AND SAID PORTION OF INSULATION, WHEREBY SAID ASSEMBLED CONNECTOR, LEADS, PLUG AND FERRULE MAY BE REPEATEDLY REMOVED FROM AND SEALINGLY SEATED IN SAID APERTURE. 